CBS Sports' Bill Raftery to speak at Marquette University's Axthelm Lecture

April 20, 2018

Note to media: Shortly before the lecture begins, Bill Raftery will be available for a group interview at 3:40 p.m. in the AMU Monaghan Ballrooms on Monday.

MILWAUKEE — Bill Raftery, analyst for CBS Sports college basketball, will be the featured speaker at Marquette University's 2018 Axthelm Lecture on Monday, April 23, at 4 p.m. in the AMU Monaghan Ballrooms, 1442 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Before becoming a successful broadcaster, Raftery set a record, scoring 370 points as a freshman at LaSalle University. He was drafted by the New York Knicks immediately after college and began his career as a professional athlete. Following this, he coached basketball at Seton Hall University and Fairleigh Dickinson. In 1979, the New Jersey Basketball Writers Association named him "Coach of the Year."

Raftery was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame this past December and won his second Sports Emmy Award last May. With catch phrases like "Onions" and "With a sweet kiss, off the glass...", he has carved out a recognizable identity for himself over his remarkable 36-year career.

Former Axthelm Scholarship recipient Michael Cianciolo, BREC '16, will moderate the Q&A portion of this year's event.

The Pete and Bonnie Axthelm Memorial Program was established in 1994 to acknowledge and recognize the life of Pete and his sister Bonnie. The program awards an annual scholarship to an outstanding Marquette journalism student with an expressed interest in sports journalism. Pete worked as a sportswriter and columnist for the New York Herald Tribune, Sports Illustrated and Newsweek. He created ties to Marquette while working on his book, "The City Game," which covers the glory and tragedy of New York basketball. While writing and researching his book, Axthelm sought the expertise of such Marquette notables as Al McGuire, Pat Smith, and Dean Meminger.

Media wishing to attend the event, or the media availability beforehand, should contact Chris Jenkins in the Office of Marketing and Communication.